Brush construction



Feb. 21, 1967 NELSON 3,304,568

BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 16, 1964 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofilice 3,304,568 BRUSH CQNSTRUCTIUN Brooks 1E. Nelson, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignor to The @shorn Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed Get. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 404,384 9 Claims. (Cl. 179) This invention relates generally, as indicated, to a brush construction and more particularly relates to such a construction wherein the brush material is securely held in place and permanently maintained in a concentric relationship with the brush support means.

Rotary brush constructions have long been known by the prior art, as for example, Whittle Patent 2,288,337, in which brush material is retained in an annular brushback of generally channel shape cross section by means of a retaining ring. As mentioned in the Whittle patent, numerous problems have been encountered in such brushes under conditions of severe use, for it has been found frequently that the brush material is insecurely held in place which results in an undesirably rapid deterioration of the brush due to shedding. Such condition also causes the brushes to become unbalanced due to the fact that the brush material will shift either locally or as a body circumferentially of the brush and also that the brush material retaining ring will shift eccentrically of the brush axis and brush-back. Because of the increas ing tendency to utilize power-driven rotary brushes at high speeds of operation as precision tools for the performance of many delicate brush operations, brush unbalance is extremely undesirable.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a brush construction in which the brush material is securely held in position thereby preventing the loss of such material during conditions of severe use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a brush construction in which the brush material is sufficiently tightly packed to prevent shifting of such material during operation.

Yet another object is the provision of a rotary brush construction in which brush unbalance is avoided by the provision of means which extend from the brush support into the brush material so as to secure such in a permanent location within the brush-back.

Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following more detailed description of the invention.

These and other objects are achieved by means of this invention in which an annular rotary brush construction is provided which comprises a brush-back having an annular radially outwardly opening sheet metal channel, a retaining ring positioned within the channel, brush material interposed between the channel and retaining ring, and sharp edged projections which are formed in the lower portion of the channel and extend into the brush material. These sharp edged projections or teeth will thus engage the brush material to prevent such material from shifting either locally or as a body circumferentially of the brush.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 of the drawings generally illustrates a rotary Patented Feb. 21, 1967 brush construction which is illustrative of the type to which this invention relates;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 relate to one method of forming brush constructions according to this invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary cross sectional views illustrating alternative embodiments of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating beaded wire bristle material, such as disclosed in US. Patent 3,090,061, including a Wire W and plastic beads B, which may be used in this invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an annular rotary brush construction is shown designated generally at l. This brush comprises an annular sheet metal brush-back 2 with a body of brush material 3 positioned therein and extending radially outwardly therefrom. The brush has a central opening 4 for mounting on an arbor or the like.

The brush-back has a radially outwardly opening channel 5 which is composed of a pair of metal stampings 6 and 7 which are joined together by a continuous weld 8. The inner periphery of the brush channel is supported by a radially inwardly extending sheet metal reinforcing flange 9. This flange is of the type referred to in my co-pending application entitled Rotary Brush, Serial No. 363,156, filed April 28, 1964-, now Patent No. 3,253,291, and serves to support the channel against the pressure which is applied during operation against the brush material and brush material retaining ring. An annular retaining ring l-(l of generally collapsed U-shape is positioned wi hin the channel so as to retain firmly the brush material therein. A plurality of sharp edged projections or teeth P are formed in the lower portion of the channel and are uni'ormly s aced around the circumference of the channel and extend into the brush material to prevent such material from shi ting within the brush-back. The projections are disposed within the channel so as to be generally free from contact with the retaining ring.

One method by which such brush construction can be produced is illustrated generally in FIGS. 3 and 4. A sheet metal cylinder 11 is formed which has a radially inwardly ex ending fiat sheet metal reinforcing flange 12. A body of brush material 13 is ap lied transversely across the cylinder. An arcuately shaped annular retaining ring 14 is positioned on the body of brush material and cylinder thereby tightly interposing the brush material between the retaining ring and cylinder The cylinder is next formed into channel shape, shown at 15 in FIG. 4, the approximate final shape being that of channel 5 in FIG. 2. As the cylinder is thus formed, the body of brush material is tightly packed within the channel between the reinforcing ring and channel and the annular retaining ring is formed into its final generally collapsed -shape configuration as the cylinder is formed into the channel. The plurality of sharp edged projections P are next punched through the lower portion of the channel so that the projections extend into the body of brush material, as shown in FIG. 2, but do not contact the retaining ring. The projections are spaced uniformly around the circumference of the channel, as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention. As shown, channel 28 is composed of a pair of metal stampings 21 and 22 which are jointed together. The channel is supported by a flat sheet metal reinforcing flange 23 positioned generally midway of the width of the lower portion of the channel. A solid brush material retaining ring 24 is positioned within the channel so as to secure brush material 25 therein between the re-' taining ring and lower portion of the channel. The brush material is doubled about the retaining ring and twisted about itself at 26 so as to be comprised of a plurality of tufts of such material. Sharp edged projections 27 are punched from the lower portion of the channel so that they extend into the brush material, as in the previously described embodiment.

The FIG. 6 embodiment is similar to that of FIG. 5, except that a plurality of annular retaining rings are employed. As shown, channel 30 is composed of metal stampings 31 and 32 welded together and is generally supported midway of its width by flat reinforcing flange 33. A pair of retaining rings 34 and 35 are positioned within the channel. Tufts of brush material 36 and 37 are doubled about the retaining ring and themselves, as shown at 38 and 39, and extend radially outwardly therefrom to form the working surface of the brush. Sharp edged projections 40 are punched from the lower portion of the channel so as to extend into the body of brush material.

When a solid retaining ring is employed, as in FIGS. and 6, the brush construction can be produced by the following method. This method comprises the sequential steps of forming a sheet metal cylinder with a radially inwardly extending sheet metal reinforcing flange as illustrated in FIG. 3. A solid brush material retaining ring with a body of brush material doubled thereabout, or alternatively doubled about the retaining ring and twisted about itself as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is axially applied closely about the cylinder, thereby uniformly interposing brush material between the retaining ring and the cylinder in a press-fitted relationship. In this position, the retaining ring is axially located about the cylinder in the same radial plane as the radial flange. The cylinder is thereafter formed into channel shape which tightly packs the brush material between the retaining ring and channel. A plurality of sharp edged projections are subsequently punched in the lower portion of the channel so that they extend into the brush material.

The sharp edged projections or teeth which are pro vided in the brush construction of this invention are punched or struck up from the lower portion or bottom of the channel so as to extend into and to engage the brush material therein. These projections will thus prevent shifting of the brush material within the channel either locally or as a body circumferentially of the brush. The projections are located in a region where the brush material is not subjected to flexing in use so that no concentrations of stress are produced which would tend to result in breakage of the brush material.

The brush construction herein disclosed through the provision of the sharp edged projections is superior to prior art constructions, such as the aforesaid Whittle patent, in which rounded protuberances or ridges are provided on the inner surface of the brush-back channel. It has been found that brush material will readily ride or creep over such rounded protuberances with consequent shifting of the brush fill material within the brush-back. With the sharp edged projections, however, the brush material is firmly retained in position within the channel with the shifting of such material being precluded.

Any of the well-known brush materials may be utilized in this invention such as, for example, horse hair, Tampico fiber, crimped wire, nylon, plastic coated wire, and plastic coated glass fiber strands. This invention has been found to be especially suitable and desirable for use with wire and beaded wire brush material. The channel back and reinforcing flange will usually be of sheet metal such as steel but other appropriate materials can obviously be employed depending upon the use intended.

Although this invention has been illustrated and described particularly with reference to a brush construction wherein a reinforcing flange is provided for the brush-back channel, it should be understood that the sharp edged projections can be used generally in any type of brush construction.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

1, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An annular rotary brush construction comprising a brush back having an annular radially outwardly opening sheet metal channel, retaining ring within said channel, brush material tightly interposed between said channel and ring doubled about said ring and extending outwardly therefrom, and sharp edged teeth integrally formed in the lower portion of said channel uniformly spaced around the circumference of said channel and extending radially outwardly into said brush material to prevent said brush material from shifting circumfei'entially of said brush, said teeth disposed so as to be free from contact with said ring.

2. The brush of claim 1 in which said brush material is twisted about said retaining ring and itself.

3. The brush of claim 2 in which a body of brush material is divided into a plurality of groups of twisted brush material.

4. The brush of claim 1 in which said brush material is wire.

5. The brush of claim 1 in which said brush material is beaded wire.

6. An annular rotary brush construction comprising a brush-back having an annular radially outwardly opening sheet metal channel, a brush material retaining ring within said channel, a radially inwardly extending flat sheet metal reinforcing flange supporting the inner periph cry of said channel, brush material interposed between said channel and ring doubled about said ring and extending outwardly therefrom, and a plurality of sharp edged teeth integrally formed in the lower portion of said channel spaced uniformly around the circumference of said channel and extending radially outwardly into said brush material to prevent said brush material from shifting locally or as a body circumferentially of said brush, said teeth disposed so as to be free from contact with said ring.

7. The method of making an annular rotary brush com prising forming a sheet metal cylinder, placing a body of brush material on said cylinder, positioning a brush material retaining ring closed about said cylinder thereby interposing said brush material between said ring and cylinder in a pres-fitted relationship, forming said sheet metal cylinder into channel shape thereby causing said body of brush material to be tightly packed within said channel in said retaining ring, and subsequently punching a plurality of sharp edged teeth in the lower portion of said channel spaced around the circumference thereof so that said teeth will extend radially outwardly into said brush material to prevent such from shifting circumfererk tially of said brush, said teeth disposed so as to be free from contact with said ring.

8. The method of claim 7 in which said brush material is twisted about said retaining ring and itself.

9. A method of making an annular rotary brush comprising forming a body of beaded wire brush material in a tightly packed relationship about an annular retaining ring, positioning said retaining ring and brush material on a sheet metal cylinder, forming said sheet metal cylinder into channel shape, thereby causing said body of brush material to be in a press-fitted relationship between said channel and retaining ring, and subsequently punching sharp edged teeth in the lower portion of said channel spaced about the circumference thereof and extending radially outwardly into said brush material to prevent said brush material from shifting circumferentially oi contact with said ring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Scully et a1. 15-182 Rydquist.

Whittle 15-179 X Peterson 15-198 6 3,134,122 5/1964 Charvat 15-179 3,139,642 7/1964 Nelson et a1. 15-181 X 3,193,865 7/1965 Jones 15-182 FOREIGN PATENTS 526,851 6/1931 Germany.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. P. FELDMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ANNULAR ROTARY BRUSH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A BRUSH-BACK HAVING AN ANNULAR RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING SHEET METAL CHANNEL, RETAINING RING WITHIN SAID CHANNEL, BRUSH MATERIAL TIGHTLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL AND RING DOUBLED ABOUT SAID RING AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AND SHARP EDGED TEETH INTEGRALLY FORMED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHANNEL UNIFORMLY SPACED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CHANNEL AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY INTO SAID BRUSH MATERIAL TO PREVENT SAID BRUSH MATERIAL FROM SHIFTING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID BRUSH, SAID TEETH DISPOSED SO AS TO BE FREE FROM CONTACT WITH SAID RING.
 7. THE METHOD OF MAKING AN ANNULAR ROTARY BRUSH COMPRISING FORMING A SHEET METAL CYLINDER, PLACING A BODY OF BRUSH MATERIAL ON SAID CYLINDER, POSITIONING A BRUSH MATERIAL RETAINING RING CLOSED ABOUT SAID CYLINDER THEREBY INTERPOSING SAID BRUSH MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID RING AND CYLINDER IN A PRES-FITTED RELATIONSHIP, FORMING SAID SHEET METAL CYLINDER INTO CHANNEL SHAPE THERBY CAUSING SAID BODY OF BRUSH MATERIAL TO BE TIGHTLY PACKED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL IN SAID RETAINING RING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PUNCHING A PLURALITY OF SHARP EDGED TEETH IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHANNEL SPACED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF SO THAT SAID TEETH WILL EXTEND RADIALLY OUTWARDLY INTO SAID BRUSH MATERIAL TO PREVENT SUCH FROM SHIFTING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID BRUSH, SAID TEETH DISPOSED SO AS TO BE FREE FROM CONTACT WITH SAID RING. 